WASHINGTON -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this year launched a nationwide operation targeting white supremacists and "militia/sovereign-citizen extremist groups," including a focus on veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to memos sent from bureau headquarters to field offices.

The initiative, dubbed Operation Vigilant Eagle, was outlined in February, two months before a memo giving a similar warning was issued on April 7 by the Department of Homeland Security.

Disclosure of the DHS memo this week has sparked controversy among some conservatives and veterans groups. Appearing on television talk shows Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano defended the assessment, but apologized to veterans who saw it as an accusation.

"This is an assessment of things just to be wary of, not to infringe on constitutional rights, certainly not to malign our veterans," she said on NBC's Today Show.

The documents outlining Operation Vigilant Eagle cite a surge in activity by such groups. The memos say the FBI's focus on veterans began as far back as December, during the final weeks of the Bush administration, when the bureau's domestic counterterrorism division formed a special joint working group with the Defense Department.

The FBI said in the memo that its conclusion about a surge in such activities was based on confidential sources, undercover operations, reporting from other law-enforcement agencies and publicly available information. The memo said the main goal of the multipronged operation was to get a better handle on "the scope of this emerging threat." The operation also seeks to identify gaps in intelligence efforts surrounding these groups and their leaders.

The aim of the FBI's effort with the Defense Department, which was rolled into the Vigilant Eagle program, is to "share information regarding Iraqi and Afghanistan war veterans whose involvement in white supremacy and/or militia sovereign citizen extremist groups poses a domestic terrorism threat," according to the Feb. 23 FBI memo.

Michael Ward, FBI deputy assistant director for counterterrorism, said in an interview Thursday that the portion of the operation focusing on the military related only to veterans who draw the attention of Defense Department officials for joining white-supremacist or other extremist groups.

"We're not doing an investigation into the military, we're not looking at former military members," he said. "It would have to be something they were concerned about, or someone they're concerned is involved" with extremist groups.

Mr. Ward said that the FBI's general counsel reviewed the operation before it began, "to make sure any tripwires we set do not violate any civil liberties."

Some Republican lawmakers, talk-show hosts and veterans groups complained this week after the internal DHS assessment cited the potential for the same extremists groups to target returning combat veterans for recruitment. The Democratic chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, also echoed the concerns.

The separate DHS assessment, leaked this week after being sent to law-enforcement agencies, said the "willingness of a small percentage of military personnel to join extremist groups during the 1990s because they were disgruntled, disillusioned or suffering from the psychological effects of war is being replicated today." Veterans could draw special attention, the report said, because of their advanced training.
Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, said Wednesday he was offended that veterans were characterized as potential domestic terrorists.

Amy Kudwa, a DHS spokeswoman, said Thursday the report was issued before an objection about one part of the document raised by the agency's civil-rights division was resolved. She called it a "breakdown of an internal process" that would be fixed.
The FBI documents show the bureau was working with investigators inside the nation's uniformed services "in an effort to identify those current or former soldiers who pose a domestic terrorism threat." The other agencies working with the FBI are the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Documents detailing the operation are unclassified, but were meant for internal distribution only.

"to get a better handle on "the scope of this emerging threat." If there is a threat, then what is it? Where is it? Who is it?

"John Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, said Wednesday he was offended that veterans were characterized as potential domestic terrorists".

This isn't just aimed at Veterans Mr. John Boehner, it is aimed at all Americans who think, act, or appear different than those that are in power at this time! They are truly afraid that we will rise up against them!! Because of their fear, they are angry!

"It's me, its me...." Guilty on all counts except the hate and returning from Iraq.. Oh wait a minute, I adamantly oppose ILLEGAL immigration so I am a HATER. I know because Holleyweird told me so. They are coming to get me ha ha...ha ha.

There are a lot of people out here crazy enough to believe in a Constitutional government 'of the people, by the people, and for the people', where the rights of those people are respected, and the government obeys the obligations and limitations of its charter.

The bad news is that the Department of Homeland Security is right! These folks are indeed a potential danger to the government in Washington, as long as that government continues on its current race toward making the United States a socialistic totalitarian state.

Just a thought concerning the "returning vets". You have to know that while they are over there, they do interact with and witness groups of people who have been oppressed by their own government and are trying to get out from under that oppression.

Though our stated goal is to help these people to achieve freedom, they may not see it that way and look at our occupations as oppressive. They will try to communicate this to the occupying forces.

Now consider that the returning vets start to examine and compare things. They see what is starting to emerge in the United States and get the well justified feeling that our own federal government is becoming oppressive and abusive.

It is no friggin wonder why the DHS and FBI are concerned! We, that is all of us who work to defend the constitution, are thought of as a threat to the fed. The returning vets most often agree with our efforts especially in light of what they have seen overseas.

The feds are not nearly as worried about white, or racial, supremacy groups as they are about a mixed group of patriots. Heck, if the white supremacists do some stupidly violent act, that just furthers their agenda. If our mixed and very large group of patriots begins to open the eyes of the general public though, with vets on our side, the stand a great chance of being thrown out of office before they can accomplish their goals.

Crap! I am having trouble stringing two thoughts together today. I hope this made just a little sense to somebody.

Just who ARE these people? They disdain and dismiss the concerns of regular, hard working, tax paying, freedom loving Americans by labeling them potential "Domestic Terrorists". I thought they couldn't use that word, Terrorists, anymore. I guess that only applies to our good friends from the Middle East. First, we're called Cowards, then Arrogant, and now Terrorists because we want America back. I believe the Arrogance emanates from Washington, DC and its' new regime. First our president bows to the Saudi king, and now Hugo Chavez is his good pal. I really don't like the path they're leading us on. I guess that makes me a potential terrorist. Do I have company? You bet!! TJ

obxned: The bad news is that the Department of Homeland Security is right! These folks are indeed a potential danger to the government in Washington, as long as that government continues on its current race toward making the United States a socialistic totalitarian state.

The good news is there are a whole lot of us!

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You're right. The scary part is, when negative terminology/names are used over and over to describe a certain group, then it becomes embedded in peoples' minds. Pretty soon, specific words trigger an image, a feeling, a concern, a fear...and then that group is an enemy, regardless of how valid that group's concerns are, or how well stated. Emotion....very powerful in these kinds of things. Politics is full of emotional vs. rational reaction. That's the power the media has....feeding people's emotions vs. informing their intellect. Sadly, it often goes both ways.

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